Centering gauge



D 30, 1952 w. BAGGE ET Al.

CENTERING GAUGE Original Filed July 6, 1946 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTERING GAUGE Walter Bagge and George F. Bagge, Los Angeles, Calif.

This application is a division of our co-pending application for Letters Patent for a Wheel Gage, Serial No. 681,679, iiled July 6, 1946.

In our application for Letters Patent above identied, there is disclosed and claimed a wheel gage for determining the camber and caster of vehicle front Wheels by an accurate indication regardless of Whether or not a wheel is running true, the gage being adapted for operative association with a wheel in a manner to enable various adjustments such as bending or twisting `the axle to correct inaccurate camber r caster,

`gage mounting device in a manner to co-act Ytherewith and with the wheel rim in indicating what adjustment, if any, of the gage mounting device relative to the wheel spindle is necessary to establish an alined or co-axial relationship between the gage-supporting axis of the mounting device and the wheel spindle, so as to insure an absolutely accurate basis for camber and caster measurements by the wheel gage.

Another object of our invention is to provide a centering gage for wheel gages, oi the above described character, which is of simple, rugged `and compact construction, and which is readily vapplied to the gage mounting device, as well as .being conveniently manipulatable to enable the accurate adjustment of the gage mounting device relative to the Wheel spindle to be effected with the utmost ease and dispatch.

With these and other objects in view, our invention resides in the combinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical, axial sectional view illustrating one form of centering gage operatively associated with a gage mounting device and showing the latter applied to the spindle of a vehicle wheel;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical `transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Referring specifically to the drawings, our invention in its present embodiment is shown, for the purpose of illustration, associated with a gage mounting device M composed of an adapter member or flange l having a hub i! provided with a threaded bore I2 enabling' the member I2 to be screwed onto the reduced threaded end i3 of a wheel spindle S to abut the annular shoulder I4 of the spindle. In practice, several of the flanges I6 may be provided with threaded bores l2 to nt spindle threads I3 of diierent diameters and pitches so as to enable the mounting device M to be applied to such spindles with a minimum number of the iianges iii.

The flange It has an annular recess i5 adapted to receive the outer race of a conventional selfalining bearing Il, the inner race of which is xed on the hub Iii of a head I9 provided with a circular series of openings 26 freely receiving the threaded Shanks of adjusting cap screws 2l screwed into threaded bores 22 in the ilange l0.

Projecting rigidly and axially from the hub I8 is a gage mounting extension in the form of a round shaft 23. By means of the screws 2! the shaft 23 can be angularly adjusted about the bearing I'i which broadly constitutes a ball-andsocket or knuckle joint connection between the adapter member l] and the shaft 23 ali to the end of enabling the shaft to be disposed and locked in axial alinement with the axis of the wheel spindle S.

The centering gage embodying our present in vention is designated generally at C and facilitates centering of the mounting device M on the wheel spindle S. The centering gage comprises an indicator composed of a support 25 having a socket 2B slidably receiving the outer end of the shaft 23 and adapted to be rigidly secured to the shaft by means of a clamping screw 2l threaded through the support and adapted to seat in an annular groove 23 formed in the shaft. The support 25 includes a rigid extension 29 .to which is fixed one indicating element in the form of a graduated dial 30 With which co-acts a second indicating element in the form oi an arm 3! pivotally mounted on the support by a pin 32, and carrying a rotatably mounted roller 3.3 at its end opposite to the indicating end of the arm.

The roller 33 is disposed between the two spaced ears 3d and 35 of a U-shaped slide 3e slidably mounted on the axial extension 3l of the support 25 and receiving the shaft 23. A stop washer 33 is secured by a nut 39 on the reduced and threaded end 4i! of the extension 31, and provides an abutment for one end of a coil spring 4I mounted on the extension 31. The other end of the spring 4| bears against the slide 36 to urge the latter axially in one direction, which, in the applied position of the indicator, is towards the spindle S, for co-action with the roller 33 in moving the indicating arm 3i in one direction over the dial 33.

The centering gage C also includes an actuator for the above described indicator which comprises a bearing member in the form of a sleeve 44 adapted to be rotatably mounted and axially slidable on the shaft 23 between `the slide v3.6 and the head i9 of the gage mounting device M. The

sleeve 44 has laterally projecting ears iii on which is pivotally mounted bymeans of a pin 4S, one end of the tubular section Lil of a member in the form of an extensible arm .48, the other rod section @9 of which telescopically coacts with the section l? and has its outer end pointed for engagement with the Atire rim R (Figure 1)` The outer end or" the tubular section ci is threaded to receive a nut 5d which is mounted on the rod section 9. The Outer end of the section d? is also split longitudinally at 5l to render it constrictable, and its periphery is beveled to provide an annular wedge cam t2 on which the complementar-ily beveled annular cam surface d3 on the nut 5t rides when the nut is screwed onto the section lil, all to the end of clamping the sections di and 49 in a selected position of relative axial adjustment.

With the actuator and indicator of the centering gage applied to the shaft 23 as shown in Figure l, the arm 48 is adjusted against the rim R until the slide 36 has been moved axially against the spring 4I to center the indicating arm 3| on the dial 30. adjusted position by the nut t, the Wheel W is rotated, thus rotating the arm 43 and the sleeve Gli with it. Should the shaft 23 not be in axial alinement with the wheel spindles, this fact will be indicated by a back and forth swinging of the indicating arm 3l over the dial 30, first to one side and then to theother of the .mid position.

`Suitable adjustment ofthe screws v2i of the mounting device `M is now made until the indicating arm 3i remains stationary as the Wheel is rotated, to thus indicate perfect alinement between the axis of the shaft 23 and the axis of the spindle S. The centering ,gage may now be removed in its entirety from the shaft 23 so as to leave the latter free .to receive the Wheel gagelnot shown) for measuring camber and cast- `er fof the wheel.

We claim:

1. A centering gage iorawheel gage-mounting device having a Wheel gage supporting extension dening an axis and adapted to'beusecur-ed toa wheel spindle for angular adjustment toa position of alinementof its axis with the-axis ofthe spindla'said centering gage comprising: an arm adapted to engage a part of the Wheelat alocation eccentric ci the Wheel axis; a fbearing sleeve on which said arm is pivoted, iadaptedto be mounted on said extension of said Wheel gage mounting device to shift axially upo-n the extension when the wheel is rotated `vvith :saidextension disalined from th-e spindle axis; and anindicator including a support adaptedtobe secured to said extension; indicating-means;mountedon the support; an actuator axially movableiontthe With the arm 48 locked -in this support and operatively connected to the indicating means to move same; and means on the support urging the actuator in one direction to effect one movement of the indicating means; said actuator being engaged by said bearing sleeve for movement in the opposite direction in response to said axial shifting of the bearing member, so as to effect opposite movement of the indi-cating means, whereby the latter will indicate the disalinement of the extension and spindle axes.

2. A centering gage for a wheel gage mounting device having a Wheel gage supporting extension defining an axis and adapted to be secured to a Wheel spindle for angular adjustment to a position of alinement of its axis with the axis of the spindle, said centering gage comprising: a support; means for securing said support to said extension; indicating means including one element fixed to the support, and a second element mounted for movement on the support to o-act with said one element; means mounted on said extension to revolve about the axis of the extension and to shift axially thereof; the last said means including a member engageable with a portion of the Wheel at a location eccentric of the Wheel axis; and means responsive to axial shifting of the 'last said meanson the extension.

that occurs When the axis of the latter is disalined from the spindle axis and said last means is revolved with the wheel. ,to actuatesaid second indicating element for co-action with `said .ene indicating ,element in indicating the disalinement.

3. A centering gage for a wheel Vgage mounting device having al wheel gag-e supporting extension defining an axis and adapted to be secured to a wheel spindle for angular adjustment -toa position of alinement of its-axis with the axisof the spindle, said centering gage comprising: .a support; means forsecuring said support-tosaid extension; indicating means including a graduated dial fixed to the support, andan indicating .arm pivctally mounted on the support for Jco-action with said dial; a member engageable-x/ithy aportion of the Wheel at a location eccentric of the Wheel-axis; means for mountingsaid-memberon said extension to revolve about the axis of the .extension and be movable axially relative to the tension defining anaxisand-adapted to be secured to a Wheel spindle for angular adjustment to apositicn of alinement of Vits axis Withthe axis of the spindle, said centering gage comprising: a support; ,means for securing saidsupyport to said extension; indicating means includ- Y; ing a graduated diall fixed'to thesupport andan indicating-arm` pivotally vmounted on they support lfor co-action with-said dial;v a member engageable with a portienof the )vv-heel at af-location eccentric of the wheel axis;va sleeve tofWhich-said member is connected, mounted on said extension;

means urging. the indicating arm in one direction; `and means cc-acting with. said sleeve inmoving the indicating arm in the opposite directionshould vtheaxis of the extensionbe disalined from -;the spindle jaxis-` when` saidmemberj is revplyedzwith the wheel, for co-action of said dial and indicating arm in indicating the disalinement.

5. A centering gage for a wheel gage mounting device having a wheel gage supporting extension defining an axis and adapted to be sejcured to a wheel spindle for angular adjustment to a position of alinement of its axis with the axis of the spindle, said centering gage comprising: a support; means for securing said support to said extension; indicating means including a graduated dial xed to the support, and an indicating arm pivotally mounted on the support for co-action with said dial; a roller carried by said indicating arm; a slide adapted to be mounted on said extension and having portions between which said roller is interposed; a spring urging said slide in one direction to accordingly move the indicating arm in one direction; a member engageable with a portion of the wheel at a location eccentric of the wheel axis; and means engageable with said slide and operatively connected to said member to mount the latter on said extension to revolve about the axis of the extension and be movable axially relative to the extension in response to a disalined condition between the axes of the extension and spindle when the member is revolved with the wheel, so as to move the indicating arm in the opposite direction against the action of said spring.V

6. A centering gage for a wheel gage mounting device having a wheel gage supporting ex tension dening an axis and adapted to be secured to a Wheel spindle for angular adjustment to a position of alinement of its axis with the axis of the spindle, said centering gage comprising: a support; means for securing said support to said extension; indicating means including a graduated dial xed to the support and an indicating arm pivotally mounted on the support .for co-action with said dial; a roller carried by said indicating arm; a slide adapted to be mounted on said extension and having spaced ears between Which said roller is interposed; a spring mounted on said support and co-acting with said slide to urge the indicating arm in one direction; a member engageable with a portion of the wheel at a location eccentric of the wheel axis; a sleeve adapted to be mounted on said extension and engageable with said slide; and means pivotally connecting said member to said sleeve for coaction therewith in moving the indicating arm in the opposite direction should the axes of the extension and spindle be disalined when said member is revolved with the Wheel, whereby said dial and indicating arm will co-act in indicating the disalinement.

7. A centering gage for a Wheel gage mounting device having a Wheel gage supporting extension defining an axis and adapted to be secured to a wheel spindle for angular adjustment to a position of alinement of its axis with the axis of the spindle, said centering gage comprising: indicating means including co-acting relatively movable indicating parts; means for securing one of said parts to said extension; a member engageable with a portion of the wheel at a location eccentric of the wheel axis; and means co-acting with said member and with the other indicating part, to cause the latter and said one indicating part to indicate a disalined condition between said extension and spindle when said member is revolved with the wheel.

8. A centering gage for a wheel gage mounting device having a wheel gage supporting extension defining an axis and adapted to be secured to a wheel spindle for angular adjustment to a. position of alinement of its axis with the axis of the spindle, said centering gage comprising: indicating means including coi-acting relatively movable indicating parts; means for securing one of said parts to said extension; an extensibly adjustable arm engageable at one end with a portion of the wheel at a locationeccentric of the wheel axis; and means including a sleeve to which the other end of said arm` is pivotally connected, adapted to be mounted on said extension for co-action with said other indicating part in causing the latter and said one indicating part to indicate a disalined condition between said extension and spindle when said member is revolved with the wheel.

WALTER BAGGEL GEORGE F. BAGGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 603,782 Brown May l0', 1898 2,176,357 Palmer Oct. 17, 1939 

